USS Wasp Stops in Pearl Harbor; Nearing New Homeport of Sasebo, Japan

USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a schedule port visit on Dec. 28, 2017. Wasp is transiting to Sasebo, Japan to conduct a turnover with the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as the forward-deployed flagship of the amphibious forces in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo.

Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a final port visit on Dec. 28, ahead of making the final leg of the voyage to the ship’s new home in Japan.

Wasp departed Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Aug. 30 to begin its move to Sasebo, Japan, where it will replace USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) as the forward-deployed big-deck amphib in U.S. 7th Fleet.

Once in Japan, Wasp will begin preparations for its first Amphibious Ready Group(ARG)/Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployment of 2018, which will be the first ever to include the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter as part of the aviation combat element.

USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a schedule port visit on Dec. 28, 2017. Wasp is transiting to Sasebo, Japan to conduct a turnover with the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as the forward-deployed flagship of the amphibious forces in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo.